Mechanical stoker.



PATENTBD DEU. 13, 1904,.

V. BAGHMAN. MECHANICAL stroma.

APPLIUATION FIILED A}?1L18,l903.

l SHEETS-'SHEET 1.

N() MODEL.

@mi fname.:

PATENTED DEG. 13, 1904.

V. BAGHMAN.

MECHANICAL STOKBR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1s. 190s.

l SHEETS-BHBBT Z.

N0 MODEL.

M kfo: uns

PATBNTED DEG. 13, 1904.

V. BACHMAN.

MECHANICAL STOKBR.

l MPLIGATION FILED APR.18.1903.

4 SHEETS-3mm a.

NO MODEL.

wi lineages PATENTBD DEC. 13, 1904.

V. BACHMAN.

MECHANICAL STOKBR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT f1.

N0 MODEL.

Patented December 13, 1904.

VALENTINE BACHMAN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

MECHANICAL STOKER..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,062, dated December 1S, 1904.

Application filed April 18, 1903. Serial No. 153,270. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LVALENTINE BAGHMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Stokers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mechanical stokers hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The objects of this invention are, first, to construct a mechanical stoker the rocking grate-bars of which will be so arranged, supported, and connected together that the gratebars will operate simultaneously to transfer the fuel from one grate-bar to its next adjacent bar, and thereby regularly and continuously convey the fuel from the forward portion of the furnace to the rear thereof; second, to construct such rocking grate-bars and connect them by such mechanism that when they are placed in position in a furnace with their swinging or rocking ends almost contacting the adjacent rocking bars the spaces orclearanee between said grate-bars will notv be increased or diminished; third, to arrange such rocking grate-bars in such a way that when not tilted tovconvey or transfer the fuel from one rocking grate-bar to the other the top surface or top sides of said rocking gratebars will form one unbroken plane, thereby presenting an unbroken surface equal and similar to that of a stationary grate-surface and which may be used as such for hand stoking or firing, and particularly in such cases as when power is not available or the Stoker mechanism is deranged; fourth, to provide a means whereby easy access may be had to the rocking grate-bars while the same are in operation to remove obstructions or clinkers from the said rocking grate-bars. I attain these objects by means of the form of con struction and arrangement of rocking gratebars and the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals of reference designate the like parts throughout the several views.

Figure lis a longitudinal sectional elevational view of my invention of a mechanical Stoker and taken through the line A I3. (See Fig. 3.) Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the rocking grate-bars in their tilted positions. Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the stoker with parts omitted. Fig. i is an enlarged detail View of the grate-section, taken through the line (ir H. (See Figs. 5 and 6.) Fig. 5 isa plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a sectional end view of the grate-section. taken through the line C D (see Figs. i and 5) and looking in the direction of the arrow (L. Fig. 7 is a sectional end view of the supporting rocking bar, taken through the line E F. (See Figs. 8 and 9.) Fig. 8 is a side view, parts being broken away, of the same looking in the direction of the arrow (see Fig. 7;) and Fig. 9 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of the same looking in the direction of the arrow c. (See Fig. 8.)

.In the drawings, l designates the side walls of the furnace; 2, the ash-pit thereof; 3, the bridge-wall, and i the rear or refuse-receiving' portion of the furnace. The :front 5 is suitably secured tothe front portion of the boiler-setting, and to the said front is permanentl y secured the upper hopper (i. The graterocking shaft 7 is journaled in its bearings 8 and 9, which latter are secured to the front 5, and the lower hopper 1,0 has its sides ll extended downwardly to form bearings for the shaft 7 and to be supported by the latter. Retaining-straps 12 extend around the underside of the shaft 7 and are secured to said sides 1l by suitable bolts or rivets to firmly hold the latter in contact with said shaft 7 when said hopper is swung into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, andthe top side edges of the bottom hop per l() conform to a circle the center of which coincides with the center of the shaft 7. The bottom side edges of the hopper 6 are also similarly formed or curved to provide a close joint between the bottom edges of the top hopper 6 and the top edges of said bottom hopper l0. Latch-levers 13 are pivoted on the pins 14, secured to the sides of the hopper 10, and said latch-levers are provided with hooked ends l5, which are adapted to engage the front of the furnace or any suitable catches a secured thereto to retain said lower hopper 10 in working' position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The hopper-plate 16 is provided with the flanged ends 17, which form bearing ends to which the sides of the hopper 10 are bolted. The reciprocating feed-plate 18. extends entirely and transversely across the base-opening. of the hopper 1() and is adapted to slide and to work freely between the sides of said hopper, and said feed-plate 18 vis provided with a depending portion or pusher-bar 19, which is formed. integral on said feed-plate and at right angles with the top surface thereof, and the bottom edge of said pusher-bar 19 is adapted to bear and to slide on a secondary hopper-plate 20, which latter extends between the lower depending' sides 11 of said hopper 10, to which said hopper plate is securely bolted. A feed-shaft 21 is suitably journaled in bearings 22, formed in said depending sides 11 of the hopper 10 and in the outer projecting bearing 23, which latter bearing is securely bolted to the side of the hopper 10. On the feed-shaft 21 are firmly secured or keyed the mutilated gears 24, which are adapted to mesh with the racks 25, and the latter are either formed integral on the feed-plate 18 or firmly secured thereto.

A dead-plate 26 is formed integral on the front 5, and the secondary plate 27 is firmly bolted or otherwise secured to the cross-bar 28. A swinging door 29 is pivoted to the under side of the secondary plate 2O and is adapted to swing inwardly in the direction of the arrow (Z to open, and the said door is provided Afor the purpose of readily obtaining easy access to the grate-bars to remove obstructions or lumps of solid fuel that might adhere to the grate-bars or clinkers while the apparatus is in operation.

rI 'he rocking grates are composed of a series of grate pieces or sections arranged side by side and in parallel rows transversely of the furnace, and each of said grate pieces or sections is composed of the grate-bars 30, which are connected at their rear ends by cross-bars 30", formed integral therewith. Depending beneath the cross-bars 30, substantially centrally thereof and formed integral therewith, are the supporting-stems 31, and the latter stems are adapted to loosely fit in the slots 31, formed in the grate-supporting rocking bars 32 to be held in proper position. Grate-bar ties 30b are provided between the bars 30 at or near the free ends thereof for the purpose of preventing' said bars from warping or twisting when subjected to heat or sudden changes of temperature.

The rocking bars 32 are preferably of a hollow elliptical form or section and are provided at their open ends with the trunnion-bosses 33, in which are secured the trunnions 34 by suitable set-screws 35 or other suitable securing means. The slots 3FL are of sufficient size to loosely receive the supporting-stems 31 of the grates 30, and said slots 31a are formed in the top and bottom sides of the bars 32 at suitable intervals apart, and keys or other suitable fastenings 36 bind the bottom portions of the stems 31 in said bottom slots 31 of said bars 32 to firmly retain the said grate-sections in position relatively to their supporting rocking bars 32. On each end of said bars 32 is formed integral therewith the rocking arms 37, which are drilled to receive the connecting-pins 38.

Connecting-bars 39 are situated at each end of the bars 32 and are drilled at suitable intervals apart to receive the trunnions 34, and thus retain said rocking grate-supporting bars 32 at their proper distance apart. The lower side bars 40 are composed of channel-irons, one arranged on each side of the furnace. Laterally-projecting pins 38 extend from the bars 40, upon which the levers 37 of the bars 32 are pivoted. The connecting-bars 39 and side bars 40 extend forwardly to the depending swinging arms 41, to which they are pivotally connected by the pins 42 and 43.

The swinging arms 41 are keyed or otherwisc firmly secured on the shaft 7 The side bars 40 are supported at their rear ends by the rollers 44, which are adapted to turn freely on their bearing-studs 45, which latter are firmly secured to the ash-door-frame sides 45. The ash-door-frame sides 46 are closely fitted against the sides of the furnace and a distance-plate 4T extends transversely of said furnace, between the sides thereof, and has its ends securely bolted to the top upwardly-projecting' ends of said ash-door-frame sides 46.

The ash-pit 2 is separated from the rear portion 4 of the furnace by the depending door 48,which latter is hinged on the distance-plate 47 to swing in the direction of the arrow e, so that when the said rear portion of the furnace becomes charged with refuse material said door 48 will move gradually toward the position indicated in dotted lines inl Fig. 1 to permit that portion of the fuel from which all the combustible material has been removed to pass into the ash-pit, from whence it can be readily removed. A dump-grate 49 is situated to the rear of the last row of grate-bars and contiguous to the said row. Said dumpgrate ris bolted at its ends to the upper extended ends of the ash-door frame 46 in such position thereon that the top surface of said grate will be inclined rearwardly to permit the incombustible portions of the fuel to be dumped from the last series of grate-bars 30 upon said inclined grate, from which it freely slides into the rear back portion 4 of the furnace.

The rocker-arm 50 is firmly keyed or otherwise secured on the end of the shaft 7 and is connected by a suitable connecting-rod 51 to a suitable trip mechanism. The feed-shaft IOC IIO

armee is rocker-arm 52 is also firmly keyed or otherwise secured on the end of the shaft 21, and a suitable connecting-rod 53 connects said lever' 52 with the trip mechanism.

A gear-wheel 56 is secured to the exterior bottom depending side 11 of said hopper 10, and the said gear-wheel is adapted to mesh with the pinion 57, keyed on the end of the crank-shaft 58, which latter shaft is journaled in a bearing 59, formed integral with the bearing 9. The outer projecting end 6() of the shaft 58 is preferably formed square to receive a hand-crank, whereby the latter shaft 58 may be turned to turn said pinion 57, and thereby turn the wheel 56, secured to said side 11 of the hopper 10, to either swing' the said hopper into its lower position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, or to elevate said hopper from its lower position into its working position, as shown in full lines in Figs. l and 2.

Gruideways 61 are formed on the furnacefront 5, in which guideways the sliding door 63 is adapted to slide. The sliding door 63 is preferably of box-section and is provided with lirebrick or other refractory lining' material 64C to protect said door from the heat of the furnace. A handshaft 65 is situated above the hopper 6 and journaled in suitable bearings 66, secured to the side of the hopper 6. Spools 67 are keyed or otherwise secured on said shaft 65 intermediate said bearing 66, and said spools are provided with suitable door-chains 68, which extend from said spools to the eyes 69', secured or formed integral on the front side of the door 63. A hand-crank 70 is secured on the end of said shaft 65, by means of which the latter may be turned to turn said spools 67 to either elevate or lower said sliding' door 63 to either increase or diminish the size of the opening' at the bottom of the hopper.

l will new proceed to describe the practice of my invention. Fire is first made on the grate-bars 30, and coal or other fuel is next placed in the hopper 10, and the sliding door 63 is adjusted into position to obtain the required degree of opening between the bottom of said door and the hopper-plate Q0. The trip mechanism is now started and operated continuously while the stoker is in use to continuously rock the feed-shaft rocker-arm 52 and the grate-bar rocker-arm 50.

By means of the movement of this grate it will be readily understood that the fuel is regularly agitated to loosen and to break up the caked fuel to permit the requisite amount of atmospheric air to pass through said fuel to support perfect combustion, thereby preventing excessive smoke and the formation of clinkers.

From the foregoing andan inspection of the drawings the operation of the mechanism and the functions performed by same will be readily understood.

at one end and reciprocated. and means for supporting' the opposite ends of said bars, substantially as described.

2. A mechanical stoker comprising a series of rocking grate-bars provided with arms depending below the same, side bars adapted to pivotally receive the depending arms of the rocking bars, connecting-bars pivotally connected with the del'iending arms of the rocking bars at points intermediate their bottom pivotal ends and the axes of oscillation of the same, swinging' arms supporting' at different points along' their lengths the side and connecting' bars at the forward ends thereof, means for actuating the swinging arms' and means for supporting the opposite ends of the side bars, substantially as described.

3. lnaniechanical Stoker, a series of gratesupporting rocking bars extending transversely of thefurnace, grate-bar sections having means thereon adapted to engage within said rocking bars, arms depending' from the ends of the grate rocking bars, bars pivotally connected to said depending arms at their lower ends, connecting-bars pivotall y secured to said arms at points intermediate their bettom pivotal ends and the axes of oscillation of the same, swinging arms connected at different points along' their length with .said side and connecting bars at the forward ends thereof, and rotatable members supporting the side bars at their free ends, substantially as described.

4c. In a mechanical stoker, a series of gratesupporting rocking bars provided with dcpending arms, connecting-bars in which said rocking bars are journaled, side bars pivotally connected with the depending arms of the rocking bars at points intermediate their lower pivotal ends and the axes of oscillation of the same, swinging arms to which said side bars and connecting-bars at different points along the length of said arms are pivoted at their forward ends, means for supporting the opposite ends of said bars and means for actuating the swinging arms, substantially as described.

5. ln amechanical stoker, the combination of rocking bars, grate-sections secured to the said rocking bars, depending arms secured to said rocking bars,side bars pivotally connected to the lower ends of said arms, connecting- IDO IIO

bars pivotally secured to the said arms at points intermediate the bottom pivotal ends thereof and of the axes of oscillation of the same, swinging' members connected at different points along their length with the side and connecting bars at the forward ends thereof, and rotatable means for supporting the opposite ends of said bars, substantially as described.

6. In amechanical stoker, a series of gratebar sections each provided with an integral connecting member and depending supporting member formed integral therewith, rocking bars of a substantially elliptical form having means therein for receiving depending portions of said grate-sections, depending arms formed integral with said rocking bars, connecting-bars secured to the rockingI bars at points intermediate the bottom pivotal ends of said arms and the axes of oscillation of thesame, side bars pivotally secured to the lower ends of the depending arms and swinging members connected at different points along the length thereof with the forward ends of the side and connecting bars, means for supporting the side and connecting' bars at the rear ends thereof and means for actuating the swinging members, substantially as described.

7. In a mechanical Stoker, grate-sections and rockingbars for supporting the same, depending arms formed upon said rocking bars, connecting-bars pivotally connected to the arms at points intermediate their lower pivotal ends and the aXes of oscillation of the same, swinging members supportingthe connecting-bars at the forward end thereof adapted to reciprocate the same, members pivotally secured to the lower ends of the depending arms, said members being connected with the swinging members at points below the connection of the connecting-bars therewith, means for supporting the rear ends of the connecting-bars, and means for actuating the swinging members, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VALENTINE BACHMAN.

IVitnesses:

THOMPSON R. BELL, E. LoUis. 

